Cabbage is the most reliable of the brassicas: it grows through cool weather, stores well, and a few plants can feed a household for months. From crisp spring greens to dense winter heads, there is a cabbage for every season, and they are all far better fresh from the garden than from a shop shelf.
Cabbage wants rich soil, plenty of water and a long, cool season.
Cabbage at a glance
| Growing factor | What cabbage need |
|---|---|
| Sun | full sun |
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Days to germination | 7–14 |
| Days to maturity | 60–90 |
| Spacing | 12–24 inches |
| Water needs | moderate |
| Cold tolerance | frost-tolerant |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
Starting seeds
This crop can be started indoors or sown direct, and either route works well. Indoors, sow in trays, cells or small pots and expect germination in 7–14 days; direct-sown seed goes into a prepared bed once conditions are right. Starting indoors buys a few weeks of season and steadier germination, while direct sowing is simpler and avoids transplant shock.
Shorter-season gardens in the cooler zones gain the most from starting indoors, while warmer zones can usually direct-sow with confidence. Our seed-starting calculator works out indoor sowing dates from your frost dates. Zones 11–13 are frost-free, so sowing windows there are about heat and rain instead — check your local extension service.
Cabbage can be started indoors or sown direct, and starting indoors gives the most reliable results. Sow in trays or cells, pot seedlings on into individual pots, and grow them into sturdy young plants with a few true leaves before planting out. Direct sowing works too, but thin the seedlings to their proper spacing and protect them from slugs while they are small.
Transplanting and planting out
Plant cabbage out when the seedlings are sturdy, at their full spacing, and firm them in well — loose plants rock in the wind and never heart up properly. Water them in thoroughly and mulch to hold the moisture. Fine mesh over the bed from day one is the best defence against cabbage butterflies, and a firm, well-fed plant hearts up faster than a starved one.
Space plants 12–24 inches apart — crowding is one of the commonest causes of small harvests. Our plant-spacing calculator works out how many plants fit your bed.
Soil and feeding
Cabbage grow best in rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Dig in compost before planting: it improves heavy soil, helps light soil hold moisture, and feeds the soil life that feeds your plants. Aim for a soil pH of 6.0–7.0 — a simple soil test will tell you where you stand, and garden lime or sulfur can nudge pH up or down over a season, so test before you amend rather than guessing.
Feed lightly and steadily rather than in one heavy dose: too much fast nitrogen late in the season pushes leafy growth at the expense of the part you eat. Our fertiliser calculator works out amounts for your bed size, and the soil-volume calculator tells you how much mix a new bed needs.
Watering
Water needs are moderate: keep the soil evenly moist, watering deeply when the top inch or two dries out. Deep, infrequent watering builds deeper roots than a daily sprinkle.
Water at the base of the plant, in the morning, so the leaves dry quickly and the water reaches the roots. Our watering calculator gives a starting point for your bed size, and the watering schedule generator can build a routine around it. A mulch layer cuts evaporation and keeps moisture even.
Sunlight and temperature
Cabbage need full sun — a spot that gets sun for most of the day. Our sunlight calculator can check your spot.
This crop is rated frost-tolerant for cold tolerance, so it stands up to light frosts and is at its best in the cool seasons. In Zones 11–13, which are frost-free, heat rather than cold is the limit — grow it in the cooler months, with afternoon shade in the hottest weather. Our hardiness-zone finder will confirm your zone, and the frost-date calculator gives you the frost dates to plan around.
Pests and diseases
The pests and diseases most often reported on cabbage are cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, slugs. Healthy, well-watered plants resist attack better than stressed ones, and rotating beds so the Brassicaceae family does not repeat in the same spot helps keep soil-borne problems down.
- Cabbage Worms — small green caterpillars that chew holes in brassica leaves; fine mesh from planting time keeps the butterflies off.
- Aphids — small sap-sucking insects on new growth; wash off with a strong jet of water and encourage ladybirds.
- Flea Beetles — tiny jumping beetles that chew shot-holes in leaves, worst on seedlings; row cover keeps them off young plants.
- Slugs — chew ragged holes in leaves at night; water in the morning so the surface dries by evening.
Inspect plants weekly, especially leaf undersides, and act early. Our pest-identifier helper can help identify what you are seeing.
Companion plants
Good companion plants for cabbage include:
- Marigolds — their roots discourage some soil pests
- Basil — attracts pollinators
- Onions — their scent is said to confuse pests
- Lettuce — shallow-rooted, fills gaps without competing
Our companion-planting finder can suggest more pairings for your bed plan.
Harvesting
Cut cabbage heads when they feel firm and solid when squeezed — a loose head needs more time. Cut with a sharp knife, leaving the outer leaves and a short stump, and the stump will often sprout a crop of small loose leaves afterwards. Harvest in the morning when the heads are cool and crisp, and use or store them promptly.
Expect the crop to be ready about 60–90 days after sowing, though weather and variety shift that window by a week or two either way. Our harvest-date calculator works out your expected harvest date from your sowing date, and the vegetable-yield estimator can estimate how much a bed should produce.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Heads splitting open | a sudden flush of water after a dry spell | Water cabbage evenly through the season and mulch to keep the soil moisture steady. |
| No head forming | hot weather or plants too crowded | Cabbage hearts up best in cool weather with plenty of room. |
| Caterpillars eating the leaves | cabbage white butterflies laying eggs | Fine mesh netting from planting time keeps the butterflies off. |
Heads splitting open
Water cabbage evenly through the season and mulch to keep the soil moisture steady.
No head forming
Cabbage hearts up best in cool weather with plenty of room.
Caterpillars eating the leaves
Fine mesh netting from planting time keeps the butterflies off.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant cabbage?
Sow once the soil is workable in spring — this crop is rated frost-tolerant for cold tolerance, so it can go in early. For zone-specific timing, see zone 4 or zone 7, and check your local extension service for the dates that fit your area.
How long do cabbage take to grow?
Cabbage take 60–90 days from sowing to maturity, and seed germinates in 7–14 days. Weather and variety shift the harvest window by a week or two, so judge readiness by look and feel rather than the calendar alone.
How far apart should I plant cabbage?
Space plants 12–24 inches apart — that is the room a mature plant needs, and crowding means poor airflow and small harvests. Our plant-spacing calculator works out how many fit your bed.
How do I store cabbage after harvest?
Late varieties store best: keep whole heads in a cool, frost-free place with good air circulation, and they will keep for weeks or even months. Remove any damaged outer leaves, do not wash them before storing, and check them regularly, using any that start to soften first.